1 of 4

19th Century Gilden Wood Optometrist or Optician Storefront Trade Sign

$3,000List Price

About the Item

exceptional all original 19th century american hand-carved pine wood optician trade or advertising sign featuring the highly desirable anaglyph lenses consisting of cobalt blue and ruby red "flash glass" insets or panels. the remarkable trade sign retains the original textured gold leaf finish over wood, that has aged nicely over time. the well-maintained optician trade sign, in the form of eyeglasses or spectacles are of typical form, with curvaceous bridge and oval-shaped rims. the richly colored panels are fastened from the backside. no cracks or breaks evident in the glass "lenses." purportedly from a philadelphia eye doctor's office. the trade sign took many forms in early america. when education was a privilege and literacy rare, the ideal trade sign immediately caught the attention of a passerby and, because of its design, was totally self-explanatory. folk artists, sometimes including itinerant portrait painters, created signs that bore pictures that visually explained the name of the establishment or the services to be found within. these signs usually carried pictures or lettering on both sides and were hung from a tall post at right angles to the road, so as to be visible to travelers approaching from either direction. three-dimensional carved trade signs were often produced in the same workshops as figureheads and other ship decorations and usually displayed the same broad-planed carving style that typified american figureheads. the introduction of electric signs, which could advertise a business in the dark, led to the decline of the carved trade signs.

Dimensions:
Height: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Width: 35 in (88.9 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Glass,Wood,Gilt
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1890s
Condition:
Minor structural damages. There is a restored/repaired crack in the bridge (visible in picture) due to it being the most fragile part of the wood. Flash glass is in great condition.
Seller Location:
Chicago, IL
Reference Number:
Seller: 24974-171stDibs: LU248936803083

Mid-20th Century Industrial Signs

Materials

Metal

Vintage Metal Optician Shop Trade Sign

$4,779

H 27.56 in W 5.52 in D 40.56 in

19th Century Cobbler Trade Sign

Located in Nantucket, MA

A carved cobbler's boot-form trade sign, in old gold paint. Carved in two pieces of pine, capped with lead, circa 1870 Very good condition, measures: 14" x 9 ½”.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Lead

19th Century Cobbler Trade Sign

$1,650

H 14 in W 9.5 in D 4.5 in

19th Century, Apothecary Trade Sign

Located in Nantucket, MA

Figural trade sign in the form of a mortar and pestle, both the mortar and pestle are hand turned and gilded, with strong ring turnings. The top is capped with zinc and still bears i...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century North American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Zinc

19th Century, Apothecary Trade Sign

$3,750

H 16.75 in Dm 10.5 in

19th Century Tobacconist’s Trade Sign

Located in Greenwich, CT

English carved and polychrome decorated wood tobacconist’s trade sign in the form of a “Turk” wearing a distinctive headdress and dressed in a long robe, this advertising figure rela...

Category

Antique 19th Century British Folk Art Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th Century Tobacconist’s Trade Sign

$18,500

H 42 in W 10 in D 10 in

18th or 19th Century French Ship Chandler s Trade Sign

Located in Nantucket, MA

18th or 19th century French ship chandler's trade sign, circa 1800, an oval pine double sided sign built with large dove-tails, advertising Cooperage and...

Category

Antique 1790s French Folk Art Nautical Objects

Materials

Pine

18th or 19th Century French Ship Chandler s Trade Sign

$2,475

H 20.5 in W 27.5 in D 0.75 in

19th Century Doctor McCracken Surgeon s Trade Sign

Located in Hamilton, Ontario

Double-sided doctor's medical practice trade sign for 'Dr. McCracken'.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Signs

19th Century Doctor McCracken Surgeon s Trade Sign

$1,495

H 10 in W 20 in D 0.15 in

Elkwood, Late 19th Century American Trade Sign

Located in Nantucket, MA

With carved gilt wood letters with mounted against a blue painted sand ground American, c. 1890.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

Elkwood, Late 19th Century American Trade Sign

$2,850

H 13.25 in W 55.5 in D 1.88 in

19th Century Cast Iron Shoemaker’s Trade Sign

Located in London, GB

19th century cast iron shoemaker’s trade sign A highly decorative example of a late 19th century cast iron French shoemakers shop trade sign. Hand crafted from a hand cut iron metal...

Category

Antique 1880s French Early Victorian Decorative Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

19th Century Cast Iron Shoemaker’s Trade Sign

$2,334

H 19 in W 30 in D 1 in

19th Century Folk Art Upholstery Trade Sign

Located in San Francisco, CA

Wonderful 19th century hand painted folk art upholstery trade sign. Double sided wooden trade sign for an old upholstery shop in San Francisco. A rare piece of San Francisco history...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

19th Century Folk Art Upholstery Trade Sign

$1,875

H 14 in W 42 in D 1 in

Large Late 19th or Early 20th Century Zinc Locksmith Trade Sign

Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex

Impressive Late 19th or Early 20th Century Zinc Locksmith Trade Sign in the form of a Large full bodied key. Found in its original finish. Remarkable Condition. France Circa 1900

Category